But none of us will ever be able to own an AA-12. However my Saiga-12's aren't too dissimilar, and one can now obtain 20-rd drums for them. You can change out parts for 922 compliancy and move the trigger group forward, then put the pistol grip on it. Better sights, load up on magazines. For about $1500-1700 you can get the AK shotgun to almost do what the AA-12 can do.

I actually think a 12-ga pump makes for a decent SHTF gun, especially if you have a couple different barrels. Personally I'll probably be ditching the Saiga's, my Mossy 835 is good enough. I think it would make a good SHTF longarm, it's 24" overbored to 10 ga (great for honkers, quackers and gobblers), so no slugs. But one can get 20" cylinder barrels and also a rifled barrel. I wouldn't mind digging up one of each. Ghost rings and a picatinney rail for low power scope on the rifled barrel. XS front bead on the other two. Good to go.

1. No bolt hold open (call me spoiled).
2. Standard 5 shell box magazines are tight, you dare not leave a full mag loaded and the bolt closed. Deformed top shell = feed issues.
3. Mags (and drums) are expensive.
4. Carrying extra mags, just plain suck. Whereas a tube can be fed from a bandoleer frequently.
5. I also don't care for the AR style safety, but that's user preference.

Pros;

1. Speed. Fast to action.
2. Reliable, never had a hiccup.
3. One can carry an ENORMOUS amount of lead to throw at an intended target. 5-rd, 7-rd, 10-rd and 20-rd drums = Fun range toy.
4. Reloads can be really fast, hold the bolt open, rock in a new mag, GTG. Problem is one needs the periphery to carry said mags.

I mostly use a shotgun for pheasant/waterfowl, clay busting, home defense and wouldn't mind getting a couple rifled slug barrels for deer hunting. For that role a tube-fed pump seems to be more than adequate and gives me all the versatility that is such a strong point for a smoothbore. The Saiga and AA12 are more niche market shotties.

For self-defense I'm of the opinion that 2 3/4" buck is good enough. Low-recoil shells are even better. I just wish they made a low-recoil 15 shot 00 Buck in 3".

Brumb, you might also consider purchasing a pull-on recoil pad called a limbsaver. I bought one for my .50 AR until I got used to the recoil, it helped a lot.
I can't speak to the Knoxx, I always wanted to get it and the box mag kit for my 590. Never got around to it.

For SHTF, it's .223 or 9mm for all my weapons. (What is the most common ammo out there?)

I might get a cheap-o 7.62x39 just to be able to use the surplus Russian stuff, but that's not so easy to find anymore. (Then again, neither is the .223 or 9mm....LOL)

I figure, if the SHTF, and I live longer than the ammo I have available, I'd be able to re-supply with what ever I get off those who lose the battle. (That goes for guns, as well as ammo.)

There is this show, the "compound" or whatever, and it's got these people who are mostly not armed. What a joke. Perhaps in LA, but I doubt that very much. (Gangs are armed, as are many other people in LA.) Here in Boise, It would be pretty civilized.. You do not want to start a shooting contest, when everyone is pretty much armed. (It would be like the wild west, but that worked for many decades.)

I keep seeing people saying taking ammo from whoever. If I'm dead, the only thing you'll find on me is an empty gun with empty magazines because I will have used up all the ammo. Don't depend on FINDING ammo, it's stupid. There, I said it. The only dependable ammo supply is WHAT YOU HAVE ON HAND. That's why I have 2000 rounds of 5.56 and supplies for 2000 more. And 300 rounds of 7.62 NATO and supplies for 1000 more.

I'll have 1000 rounds of 6.8 SPC, and 45 Colt, and 10mm. Why? Who's going to take it if they happen to find my ammo stash?

I'd love the Knoxx RS stock, but it costs almost as much as my Mossberg did. dunno if I could get that purchase past CINC-house AKA the accountant wife...she'd run the cost analysis and probably tell me to buck up and quite being a wus. hehe.

I'd love the Knoxx RS stock, but it costs almost as much as my Mossberg did. dunno if I could get that purchase past CINC-house AKA the accountant wife...she'd run the cost analysis and probably tell me to buck up and quite being a wus. hehe.

I figure if I have to scavenge ammo, I will be finding a gun to go with it anyways. That said, since we have a couple 20 gauge around, no need to do anything for scatterguns.

When it comes to rifles, the mini-14 just doesn't seem like my first choice, and AR's are just plain expensive. For the price of an AR, I can pick up an SKS, an AK clone, an old mauser or two (or moisin-nagants), and still afford a cheap 9 mm carbine like a hi-point 995 to complement my handguns.

That and making sure I have some ammo for each, and dies and supplies, I'll be OK for a while.

Yea the ammo might be a problem. I read about this gun a few years ago and how the presidential escorts carried one or two. I also have a buddy who rode in a humvee in Iraq that was equipped with one. All he said was that it was brutal on soft targets.